'Yes sir, we have completed the installation of your exhaust system. Our best tech is out test driving the car right now to ensure that there are no rattles....what sound?.......I assure you, nobody is doing donuts in your car in our driveway.......are you calling from a cell phone?......'

I had one before I got the 135. If you're ok with getting about 170 miles on a tank and having the car drink a liter of oil every 2-3k miles, then it's a really fun car. It pulls like a freight train at higher speeds. I'd be sure to either get an extended or third party warranty and make sure it covers the SMG (including the clutch). If the SMG goes kaput, you're looking at a minimum of $5k in repairs.

'Yes sir, we have completed the installation of your exhaust system. Our best tech is out test driving the car right now to ensure that there are no rattles....what sound?.......I assure you, nobody is doing donuts in your car in our driveway.......are you calling from a cell phone?......'

I went from M3 to the E60 M5...Once you put it in sport mode the thing was so awesome. However, unless you hit the ol M button on the wheel, the transmission sucked at all times! I hated driving this thing around town. Plus it was to big for me. I wasn't to concerned with the 10 MPG i was getting until I had to stop at the station to fill up every other day. I also had to buy a new clutch not to long after purchasing it from the previous owner screwing me. That cost me $5k, extended warranty didn't cover any of the clutch. Did i mention i hated the transmission!

Im back into an M3 after taking a $10k loss in less then 6 months! I would have been willing to take a 20k loss to get that shit out of my driveway. Stick with your gut like i should have...E39 M5!

I went from M3 to the E60 M5...Once you put it in sport mode the thing was so awesome. However, unless you hit the ol M button on the wheel, the transmission sucked at all times! I hated driving this thing around town. Plus it was to big for me. I wasn't to concerned with the 10 MPG i was getting until I had to stop at the station to fill up every other day. I also had to buy a new clutch not to long after purchasing it from the previous owner screwing me. That cost me $5k, extended warranty didn't cover any of the clutch. Did i mention i hated the transmission!

Im back into an M3 after taking a $10k loss in less then 6 months! I would have been willing to take a 20k loss to get that shit out of my driveway. Stick with your gut like i should have...E39 M5!

I was actually looking at an E39 M5. The only thing about those are again the clutches are bad and so is the VANOS. People say if youre willing to live with a ticking noise in your engine from the VANOS then go ahead. If I had that power and that good looking of a car I'd give a shit less if the VANOS had a little tick.

I went from M3 to the E60 M5...Once you put it in sport mode the thing was so awesome. However, unless you hit the ol M button on the wheel, the transmission sucked at all times! I hated driving this thing around town. Plus it was to big for me. I wasn't to concerned with the 10 MPG i was getting until I had to stop at the station to fill up every other day. I also had to buy a new clutch not to long after purchasing it from the previous owner screwing me. That cost me $5k, extended warranty didn't cover any of the clutch. Did i mention i hated the transmission!

Im back into an M3 after taking a $10k loss in less then 6 months! I would have been willing to take a 20k loss to get that shit out of my driveway. Stick with your gut like i should have...E39 M5!

My fears were your reality. Sorry to hear about your bad experience. I (will say again, and can not say enough) was annoyed by the trans too. My overall experience was positive, but I just didn't trust it.

I remember thinking, 'nobody buys this car after a traditional test drive' because at low speed it is just not good or fitting a car of its price.

I could watch this video over and over. This thing is sick and sounds ridiculous in a good way. Not to mention the driver is pretty decent too . If I had money to blow I would get this beast and this exhaust. Good work guys.

I'd think it is definitely a go from e92 to E60 (especially an M) if financial situation allows; however, why a '06 or '07 model? The e60 m5 chassis is designed for smg transmission but models from these two years tend to have hydraulic pump and actuator problems. Manual did come out in 08, but the car just wasn't designed for this tranny, so I'd recommend going with an 08 if you can, and if you're lucky, you can find one that is still under extended warranty

I went from an E39 540 to an E60 M5 a few years back. It was long awaited for and nothing short of my dream car. However, it's a maintenance nightmare. Lot's of SMG issues, none of which are cheap. I dumped it after less than a year. I would buy another but never as a daily driver. The car is simply amazing all around at full throttle. At that moment the SMG Tranny makes sense but putting around it sucks.

Yay my first post. Honestly, there is a lot of truth above. The smg is the biggest issue I see with them. It's never a small repair either. The diagnostic on them SUCKS, even the factory is limited in properly diagnosing them. The internal engine oil feed to the vanos can be an issue on them too. As far as mechanical failures mostly just alternators causing voltage issues. Also the occasions bad cat, and bad throttle motor.

E90 M3 may be a good compromise. The same engine dynamics as the V10, only a bit less of the F1 sound, but still sounds 9/10's as well. Has 4 doors and is as fast or faster than the m5 in anything but a 70mph--- drag.

E90 M3 may be a good compromise. The same engine dynamics as the V10, only a bit less of the F1 sound, but still sounds 9/10's as well. Has 4 doors and is as fast or faster than the m5 in anything but a 70mph--- drag.

Thank you for all the input. I pulled the trigger on an 07 M5. As everyone advised against, I didn't get the SMG. I found myself a MT for a great price. Sorry to be leaving my 335 but the M5 is insane!!